Maritime Photographers Race Against Time to Capture Vibrant Autumn Spectacle

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In the Maritimes, a novel kind of pursuit is gripping photographers, videographers, and drone pilots: they are giving chase—not to storms—but to the riotous hues of fall.

Regions such as Cape Breton bear witness to the rich tapestry of the season where foliage is ablaze with reds cocooned in verdant green, or brimming with golds that glint under the autumn sun, accentuated by eye-catching splashes of orange. It is a vibrant canopy that falls nothing short of a visual spectacle.


“The foliage here exudes an exceptional yellow intensity this year that I’ve never seen before,” remarks Josh Lohnes, a seasoned cinematographer and AnchorViewMedia proprietor, whose creative inspiration stems from these autumnal hues.

Driven by the ephemeral beauty of this kaleidoscope of colours, he is locked in a race against time, renewing his exploits from the previous year to scale the summits in Cape Breton, notwithstanding the dissimilarity of the hues each season, the uniqueness of every sunset. He comments on sensing an urgency about it, “Appreciating it in all its glory requires knowing it’s a short-lived phenomenon.”

Across the Maritimes, drones hover above cranberry fields or fiery forest canopies, each capturing this breathtaking spectacle in its unique way.

One such devotee, Omar Abdulnaim from Oromocto, New Brunswick, finds great pleasure in operating his drone. He elaborates, “The sight is truly awe-inspiring. Especially when the sun illuminates the landscape, and there is no hindrance from the clouds or rain—it’s a sight to behold.”

Yet, the season’s dazzling beauty provokes contemplation. Is the vibrancy diminished this year, or are the leaves clinging a tad longer to their branches? Opinions vary as Jill Craig expressed her belief in subdued colours this year, whereas Colin Craig noted the ever-present beauty of Atlantic Canada’s fall, albeit a touch tardily unfurling than usual.

Loïc D’Orangeville, a tree biology and silvics associate professor at the University of New Brunswick, attributes the variation to wildfires and severe droughts impacting some areas. However, he adds, “Here in New Brunswick, after an initial dry spell, we experienced one of the wettest summers in recent years, resulting in pretty satisfactory colours, although a bit late.”

This belated turning of the leaf hues has serendipitously lent the photographers and cinematographers more time for their craft. Reminiscing about his recent visit to Cape Breton, Lohnes mentions, “The colours are still vivacious.” Indeed, the tardiness of autumnal colours allows these artists to truly capture the canvases that nature paints in this fleeting season.